Method and hard tissue slicing machine for slicing hard tissue using a slicing blade

Abstract

A method for slicing hard tissue using a slicing blade is disclosed. The method includes securing the blade in a blade holder. The slicing blade is integrally manufactured as a single piece with a trapezoidal prism-shaped back portion and a triangular prism-shaped edge portion. The back portion has a vertical height of 27-38 mm, a horizontal length of 8-20 cm, and an end thickness of 4-15 mm. The edge portion has a base angle of 70-85°, a vertical height of 1-3.5 mm, and a horizontal length of 8-20 cm, with the junction between the portions having a thickness of 0.1-0.8 mm. Further, the method includes aligning the blade at an inclination angle over 10°, positioning a resin-embedded tissue sample, calibrating slicing parameters, and producing slices 2 μm-25 μm thick, especially 2 μm-5 μm thick.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for slicing hard tissue using a slicing blade, the method comprising:
 securing the slicing blade in a blade holder, wherein the slicing blade having:
 a back portion and an edge portion which are manufactured as a single piece,
 wherein the back portion has a cross section of an isosceles trapezoid, a vertical height in a range of 27 mm to 38 mm, and a horizontal length in a range of 8 cm to 20 cm, such that the back portion is trapezoidal prism shaped, 
 wherein the edge portion has a cross section of an isosceles triangle with a base angle in a range of 70 degrees to 85 degrees, a vertical height in a range of 1 mm to 3.5 mm, and a horizontal length in a range of 8 to 20 cm, such that the back portion is triangular prism shaped with two faces of the edge portion at an angle in a range of 10 degrees to 40 degrees, 
 wherein an end of the back portion which is away from the edge portion, has a thickness in a range of 4 mm to 15 mm; and 
 
 a junction between a top portion of the trapezoidal prism shape back portion and a base portion of the triangular prism shaped edge portion formed along the horizontal lengths of the back portion and the horizontal length of the edge portion has a thickness in a range of 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm, such that the junction is rectangular shaped with shorter side in a range of 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm and larger side in a range of 8 cm to 20 cm; 
   aligning the slicing blade at an inclination angle of greater than 10 degrees relative to a slicing platform;   receiving a hard tissue onto the slicing platform, positioned at an angle greater than 10 degrees relative to the slicing blade;   calibrating slicing parameters, including at least setting a thickness of slices ranging from 2 μm to 25 μm; and   operating the slicing blade based on the calibrated slicing parameters to slice the hard tissue to produce sample slices of 2 μm to 25 μm.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the slicing blade is formed as a single, integrally molded structure, and the connection between the back portion and the edge portion includes a gradual taper. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the slicing platform is configured to hold the hard tissue in a fixed position using a clamp mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the slicing speed is maintained between 0.1 mm/s and 5 mm/s. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inclination angle of the slicing blade relative to the hard tissue is set between 15 degrees and 25 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hard tissue includes hard tissues and ordinary soft tissues embedded in the resin block as a medium having a hardness of at least 70 Shore D. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of slices is set ranging from 2 μm to 5 μm. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the resin block embedding the hard tissue is pre-cooled to a temperature of −20° C. to 4° C. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inspecting the sliced tissue using optical microscopy to confirm the absence of wrinkles or detachment. 
     
     
         10 . A hard tissue slicing machine for slicing hard tissue using a slicing blade, the hard tissue slicing machine comprising:
 the slicing blade having:
 a back portion and an edge portion which are manufactured as a single piece,
 wherein the back portion has a cross section of an isosceles trapezoid, a vertical height in a range of 27 mm to 38 mm, and a horizontal length in a range of 8 cm to 20 cm, such that the back portion is trapezoidal prism shaped, 
 wherein the edge portion has a cross section of an isosceles triangle with a base angle in a range of 70 degrees to 85 degrees, a vertical height in a range of 1 mm to 3.5 mm, and a horizontal length in a range of 8 to 20 cm, such that the back portion is triangular prism shaped with two faces of the edge portion at an angle in a range of 10 degrees to 40 degrees, 
 wherein an end of the back portion which is away from the edge portion, has a thickness in a range of 4 mm to 15 mm; and 
 
 a junction between a top portion of the trapezoidal prism shape back portion and a base portion of the triangular prism shaped edge portion formed along the horizontal lengths of the back portion and the horizontal length of the edge portion has a thickness in a range of 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm, such that the junction is rectangular shaped with shorter side in a range of 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm and larger side in a range of 8 cm to 20 cm; 
   a blade holder to secure the slicing blade;   a slicing platform to align the slicing blade at an inclination angle of greater than 10 degrees, wherein the slicing platform receives a hard tissue onto the slicing platform, further wherein the hard tissue is positioned at an angle greater than 10 degrees relative to the slicing blade;   a calibration module to calibrate slicing parameters, including at least setting a thickness of slices ranging from 2 μm to 25 μm; and   an operating module to operate the slicing blade based on the calibrated slicing parameters to slice the hard tissue to produce sample slices of 2 μm to 25 μm.   
     
     
         11 . The hard tissue slicing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the slicing blade is formed as a single, integrally molded structure, and the connection between the back portion and the edge portion includes a gradual taper. 
     
     
         12 . The hard tissue slicing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the slicing platform is configured to hold the hard tissue in a fixed position using a clamp mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The hard tissue slicing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the slicing speed is maintained between 0.1 mm/s and 5 mm/s. 
     
     
         14 . The hard tissue slicing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the inclination angle of the slicing blade relative to the hard tissue is set between 15 degrees and 25 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The hard tissue slicing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the hard tissue includes hard tissues and ordinary soft tissues embedded in the resin block as a medium having a hardness of at least 70 Shore D. 
     
     
         16 . The hard tissue slicing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the thickness of slices is set ranging from 2 μm to 5 μm. 
     
     
         17 . The hard tissue slicing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the resin block embedding the hard tissue is pre-cooled to a temperature of −20° C. to 4° C. 
     
     
         18 . The hard tissue slicing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the sliced tissue is inspected using optical microscopy to confirm the absence of wrinkles or detachment.